Social First
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2021
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 1
About Social First
Social First is an independent Finnish game developer and platform operator based in Helsinki. Founded in late 2021, the studio focuses on cross-platform social sandbox MMOs, combining multiplayer games with user-generated content and player-driven economies. Its work brings together game development, community management and digital item marketplace operations for PC and mobile audiences.
The studio approaches games as social spaces where players can build worlds, create content, meet other people and trade virtual items. Its development focus connects these creative and social activities with persistent game economies, supported by ongoing live operations and community management.
Games and acquired properties
The company's flagship internal production, Nexus Station, is a social sandbox MMO for PC and mobile. Its design emphasizes world-building tools, user-generated content, social minigames and player item trading. These activities support the studio's broader interest in games that function as lasting social platforms.
In January 2025, Social First purchased the intellectual property rights to Pixel Worlds and the Tiny Troopers franchise from Kukouri Mobile Entertainment. The acquisition brought existing properties into its portfolio; their original development took place at Kukouri. Drawing on staff experience with the original game, Social First restored server operations for Pixel Worlds and launched a clean reboot in March 2026, with a stabilized economy and refreshed community moderation.
Connecting games and marketplaces
Social First expanded its platform activities by acquiring GamerPay in November 2025. Established as a player-to-player marketplace for virtual skins, GamerPay adds real-money trading infrastructure to the company's game and economy work.
The studio aims to connect its games with marketplace systems that allow players to buy, sell and monetize virtual items across platforms. This combination of internally developed games, acquired intellectual property and marketplace operations shapes its business around both the creation of social game experiences and the management of the economies that support them.
More about Social First
Founders and leadership
- Co-founder Kim Soares is Chief Executive Officer.
- Co-founder Mikko Kähärä is President and formerly served as Chief Operating Officer.
- Both previously held executive roles at Kukouri Mobile Entertainment.
Funding and team background
- A $2.5 million pre-seed round in January 2022 was led by Play Ventures alongside angel investor Joakim Achrén.
- An additional $4.2 million seed round in August 2024 was led by Crowberry Capital, with continued participation from Play Ventures and support from Business Finland. The financing supported team expansion and flagship game development.
- The report describes a multinational team with prior experience at Ubisoft, Rovio, Paradox Interactive, Nitro Games and Housemarque.
Marketplace architecture
GamerPay contributes secure escrow and payment architecture that Social First intends to pair with its games to support safer player transactions.
Notable credits
4 creditsOffices
Where Social First is based
- Workery+ Teurastamo, Lautatarhankatu 10, 00580 Helsinki, FinlandHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Helsinki office
HeadquartersMain game development studio, creative headquarters and executive management base.
Open roles
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